Program Requirements

The M.Sc. degree will be conferred upon a candidate who has fulfilled the following requirements:

• Completion of the graduate courses specified by the student's advisory committee and the director or associate director of the OCIB; these are normally two one-term courses, but additional courses may be required, depending on the background and research program of the student.
• The passing grade for all required courses is 70% or the equivalent, and the student is not allowed a supplemental examination.
• The admissions committee or the student's advisory committee may also direct the student to take or to audit additional courses. Knowledge of a second language may be specified as a requirement.
• Completion of at least two terms as a full-time student resident at one of the two universities is normally required. Programs for part-time students may be arranged.
• Presentation of one public seminar on the candidate's thesis research.
• Completion of a thesis incorporating the results of original research carried out under the direct supervision of an approved faculty member.
• Successful oral defence of the thesis before an examination board of at least four faculty members, normally drawn from both universities.

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. degree will be conferred upon a candidate who has fulfilled the following requirements:

• Completion of the graduate courses specified by the student's advisory committee and the director or associate director of the OCIB; these will normally be two one-term courses (four one-term courses if transferred to the Ph.D. program without completing the M.Sc.).
• Only graduate courses may form part of the candidate's course requirements.
• The passing grade for all required courses is 70%, and the student is not allowed a supplemental examination.
• The admissions committee or the student's advisory committee may also direct the student to take or to audit additional courses. Knowledge of a second language may be specified as a requirement.
• Scheduling of an oral Qualifying Examination within approximately 12 months of entry into the program and completion normally within 18 months; this examination will cover the candidate's area of research, and related topics. The format of the examination will be established by the departmental graduate committee. The examination committee generally will be composed of faculty members of both universities.
• Presentation of at least one public seminar on the candidate's thesis research.
• A thesis incorporating the results of original research carried out under the direct supervision of an approved faculty member.
• Completion of at least four terms as a full-time student resident at one of the two universities (or six terms if transferred from an M.Sc.) is required. Under exceptional conditions programs may be arranged for part-time students.
• Successful oral defence of the thesis before an examination board of at least five faculty members, with representation from both universities, and including an external examiner from outside the two universities who is an authority on the thesis research area.

Guidelines for Completion of the Doctoral Degree

The maximum time limits for the completion of the program requirements of the doctoral program are listed in the General Regulations, Section 13 of this Calendar. Full-time candidates in the doctoral program are expected to schedule their oral Qualifying Examination within approximately 12 months of entry into the program, and to complete it within 18 months of entry into the program. Part-time candidates in the doctoral program are expected to schedule their oral Qualifying Examination within approximately 18 months after entry into the program. Full-time candidates are expected to complete their degree requirements within 4 calendar years or 12 terms of registered full-time study. Doctoral candidates who have transferred from the master's to the doctoral program without completing the master's program are expected to complete their degree requirements within 4 calendar years or 12 terms of registered full-time study from initial registration in the master's program. Part-time candidates in the doctoral program, and candidates who elect to complete their program by a combination of full- and part-time study, are expected to complete their degree requirements within 6 calendar years or 18 terms after the date of initial registration.